“I simply cannot praise your solicitor enough. He had a very professional yet friendly approach towards us and handled my nephew’s situation efficiently. The advice he gave, was also very useful as sometimes my nephew, myself and the general public are not aware of in terms of their legal rights.”

“My previous solicitors were pushing me to enter a guilty plea for a crime I never actually committed. Had I not been represented by Stephen Lickrish & Associates I would have been in Her Majesty’s custody at this moment in time – I do not intend on meeting anymore people in need of legal representation but I can honestly say that if I did I would know where to send them.”

“I was very impressed by the level of professionalism of your solicitors. I am obviously very happy with the result of my recent case and I believe that it would have been very hard to achieve this outcome without such diligence and guidance on your part and with the team you assembled.”

Duty Fraud Solicitors in Manchester, England

Stephen Lickrish & Associates are experts in relation to the investigation and prosecution of Duty fraud. We benefit from having a collected experience from our highly knowledgeable and skilled team of lawyers practising in this field of criminal defence nationwide and can ensure both a discrete and robust defence for our clients facing duty fraud allegations.

Duty Fraud Solicitors, Manchester

Duty fraud remains a cause of concern with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and is a serious concern for businesses in the convenience sector. An example of duty fraud is basically where a seller of alcohol or tobacco avoids paying the UK duty, which in turn allows them to sell the alcohol or tobacco cheaper to their customers, allowing the seller to operate with higher margins and gain competitive advantage.

Although the Prosecution in such cases is extensive and analysis of the case is in-depth, our highly skilled team of Duty Fraud Solicitors and Para-Legals provide successful results in defending suspects and Defendants in such investigations and prosecutions. Therefore, it is vital that if someone is under investigation for Duty fraud, they receive expert legal advice from the beginning. If you require advice and assistance in relation to duty fraud allegations, contact our specialist team now.

What are the penalties for engaging in Duty Fraud?

Those convicted of duty fraud face significant sanctions, including custodial sentences, as a result. It is for this reason that if you have been accused of being involved in the sale or supply of non-duty paid products that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. The sanctions you may be subject to if you are convicted of duty fraud include:

HMRC Recovery – This is the most common sanction for those involved in duty fraud. HMRC have the power to recover duty owed to them from anyone found to be holding excise goods such as alcohol and tobacco, where duty has not been paid on these goods. The goods will also be seized. Under the law, the person holding the goods will be liable to pay the duty to HMRC. HMRC also have powers to issue further financial penalty of up to 100% where they can find evidence of wrongdoing. It is also common practice to ‘name and shame’ those who have been found to not have paid duty. This could have a significant impact on the reputation of your business and as a result, your business success.

Criminal Prosecution – You may face criminal prosecution if you are involved in evading duty, sometimes referred to as ‘smuggling’. If you are convicted of such an offence you could face an unlimited fine and up to seven years in prison if you are convicted in the Crown Court. If you are convicted in the Magistrates Court, the maximum penalty is a fine up to three times the value of goods, and up to six months in prison. The sanctions for evading duty are severe, but our expert defence team can assist you in building a robust defence.

Licence Ban – If you are convicted of duty evasion in relation to alcohol, you will be prohibited from holding a personal licence to sell alcohol. If your business premises is discovered to be involved in such a criminal offence, your licence will be subject to a review and potentially restricted, suspended or revoked.

When facing investigation or prosecution for serious and complex fraud, it’s vital to have the support of experienced, well-respected and specialist defence lawyers who will protect your rights and interests.

Here, at Stephen Lickrish & Associates, we work discretely and proactively to provide our clients with the best possible defence and representation when facing serious fraud investigation and prosecution.

Stephen Lickrish & Associates: Duty Fraud Solicitors in Manchester

Offering specialist advice and representation on cases of Duty Fraud, Stephen Lickrish & Associates Solicitors in Manchester can help. Contact us today by calling us at 0161 237 1913 or on 0800 988 64 22 for 24-hour legal advice. Alternatively, contact us by filling out an enquiry form.